Outlook for dairy strong – ag trade envoy
New Zealand’s special agricultural trade envoy Hamish Marr believes the outlook for the dairy sector remains strong.
DairyNZ is funding the event, titled ‘Eyes wide open – negotiating a fair contract’.
DWN, Federated Farmers and DairyNZ developed the training to help contract milkers, sharemilkers and owners to negotiate a fair contract.
The network has contracted Lee Astridge from No.8 HR to lead their sessions and Federated Farmers has contracted Tony Wilding and Ciarán Tully. These 10 sessions will be held in Stratford, Cambridge, Ashburton and Winton (Federated Farmers) and Dannevirke, Gore, Ngatea, Greymouth, Rotorua and Oamaru (Dairy Women’s Network).
“It is expected there will be keen interest in these sessions where the new herd owning sharemilking agreement and variable order sharemilking agreement (Federated Farmers) and other contractual and budgeting issues will be addressed,” says DWN chief executive Zelda De Villiers.
The second DWN module will cover goal setting, run by jointly by DWN and DairyNZ
“DairyNZ staff will train two DWN volunteer regional convenors to deliver the training to their peers, in keeping with the network’s goal of empowering and developing the talents of its members,” says De Villiers.
“The sessions are developed with the members’ knowledge of on-farm training needs to ensure the training is practical, farm-focused and delivered in a way in which our members prefer to learn.”
Dairy Modules in development for 2015 include technology onfarm (smartphones), rostering onfarm and animal welfare.
The modules replace Dairy Days and Financial Days – nationwide roadshows that began in 2005.
“The new Dairy Modules programme is more flexible. The sessions are offered in two two-hour blocks. Women can opt to come to the first session only, or the first and second sessions,” says De Villiers.
The topics for the sessions are discussed and decided annually at the DWN regional convenors’ meeting in April each year, when relevant professional and personal development topics are identified and prioritised.
“The development and delivery of the Dairy Modules is collaborative, and uses feedback from network members, network volunteers and experts in the subject areas we’re covering.”
